A MOTHER'S eight-year battle to prove her daughter did not die in a car accident but was killed by someone has been vindicated with a coroner finding the woman met with foul play.
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Harmony Bryant, 26, was found with extensive burns and broken bones near her burnt-out car in bushland at Bonny Hills near Sharkies Beach, south of Port Macquarie, on August 16, 2003. She died in hospital a month later.
In handing down his findings at Wauchope Court House, Deputy State Coroner Malcolm MacPherson said the death would have been written off as a tragic road toll statistic if not for Ms Bryant's mother, Karen, who was convinced the early police investigation had been flawed.
''Karen Bryant's view that her daughter met with foul play at the hand or hands of a person or persons unknown was vindicated,'' Mr MacPherson said.
''There is no doubt that if Karen Bryant had not complained to the State Coroner's Office by letter dated December 22, 2003, enclosing the fruits of [the family's] own investigation, Harmony Bryant's death would have been treated as a single motor vehicle accident with no suspicious circumstances.''
Her blood and handbag were found on rocks north of Sharkies Beach, several hundred metres away from the site.
The original investigation ruled Harmony was the victim of a single car accident with no suspicious circumstances.
Mr MacPherson said she would not have been able to get from where her handbag and blood were found to the car in the dark and with injuries to her arm, without assistance, and could not have driven the car.
In intensive care Ms Bryant was unable to speak but had tried to ''mouth'' what had happened to her, her mother said.
''The fear in her eyes is something that will never ever leave us.''
Mr MacPherson agreed with medical evidence that Ms Bryant's serious arm and pelvic injuries occurred in the area of rocks where her blood was found, hours before the vehicle caught fire.
Her injuries were so bad she could not have walked unaided back to her car.
The state government offered a reward of $100,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for Harmony’s death.
Mr MacPherson recommended consideration be given to increasing the reward to $250,000. He directed the case be referred to cold cases at the State Crime Command, Homicide Squad.
Mrs Bryant said the findings were “not enough, but I feel there is a little bit of justice for Harmony.”
She urged anyone with information to come forward.
